Election Guide 2012: Yampa to decide on board seats

Election 2012

Referendum 2A

Shall the number of members of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Yampa, Colorado be reduced from six to four effective November 6, 2012?

Yes or No

The town of Yampa is asking voters to approve reducing the number of Town Board seats from six to four.

Referendum 2A for Yampa residents will, if approved, reduce the number of total elected officials from seven to five, because the town’s mayor is in addition to the number of trustees.

Mayor Tom Yackey said it’s been difficult for the town to maintain six board members. If a town is unable to fill a board vacancy within 60 days, Colorado Revised Statutes Title 31 Article 4 Part 3 requires an election to be called.

“It’s kind of hard to have an election without anyone to run,” Yackey said.

Yackey said the consistent vacancies are the result of a mix of a lack of interest and residents not having time to serve.

“People work a lot of hours and don’t have a whole lot left to give,” he said.

Hopefully, Yackey said, reducing the number of seats will allow the board to stay full.

Yampa Town Clerk Janet Ray said the town currently has four board members plus Yackey, and another person recently volunteered.

If the measure passes, individuals on the board would serve out their terms, Ray said.

Because the board is completely volunteer based, Ray said, the referendum would have no financial impact on the town.